Boniface at The Baby G - Concert Pictures

Winnipeg, Manitoba band Boniface was first up on The Baby G stage last Thursday night opening for Pale Waves. They did a great job warming up the growing crowd with their danceable tunes and stream of consciousness lyrics.

Check out a couple of their tunes:

"I Will Not Return as a Tourist"


"Again & Again"

Bully at Lee's Palace - Concert Pictures

I caught Bully for the first time when they appeared at Field Trip in 2016. My pics from that show are here. I loved their music and energy then, so I knew I wanted to catch them again. I got that opportunity when they swung through Toronto for a show at Lee's Palace that celebrated their third time in Toronto and the release of their new album Losing.

Bully play a fantastic blend of garage/grunge/punk/alternative rock that brings together a lot of my favourite things about 90s rock with Alicia Bognanno's personality, solid songwriting and amazing vocal delivery throughout. Check out a bunch of their tunes below and don't miss Bully when they hit up your town.

"Trying"

"Feel the Same"

"Running"

"Too Tough"

"Kills to be Resistant"

"Hate and Control"

Full album stream of Losing

Aye Nako at Lee's Palace - Concert Pictures

Aye Nako are from Brooklyn, New York. Last Thursday night marked the first night of their tour with Bully. I really, really liked their cool, grungy sounds that reminded me of so many great bands from the 90s, with a unique spin that made the music their own, and properly compelling. I was thoroughly impressed and would see them again in a heartbeat.

Check them out:

"Nightcrawler"

"Spare Me"

"White Noise"

"Particle Mace"

Elbow at The Danforth Music Hall - Concert Pictures

Manchester band Elbow made a long-overdue stop at Toronto's Danforth Music Hall on November 6. I caught the band live for the first time about three and a half years back and it was a transformative experience. Photos from that show are here.

I'm so glad I got to experience that live magic again. As I tweeted on the day of the show, they're one of the best live bands out there, mostly because of the moving nature of experiencing their emotional tunes in a community. Singing along with Elbow's moving melodies is pretty much mandatory. You're encouraged to sing along if you know the words. And if you don't know the words? Sing along anyway!

The music, lyrics and melodies are so rousing, anthemic and uplifting. The arena and festival sized choruses that build and build in intensity are perfect for any live concert venue. Songs from their latest album Little Fictions mixed in with older classics that will no doubt appear on their Best Of album which comes out November 24. As the band played, lives changed. Up in the front, Juan and Lydia got engaged. Guy congratulated them and we all sang for them. Sadly, not much rhymes with Lydia.

As my favourite live Elbow tune states, one day like this a year would see me right. However, one day like this every three and a half years is too long! Let's hope they come back to Toronto soon and share another beautiful setlist like this one.

Please enjoy some of my favourites from their set.

"Any Day Now"

"The Bones of You"

"Magnificent (She Says)"

"All Disco"

"The Birds"

"My Sad Captains"

"New York Morning"

Set closer and one of the most uplifting tunes to belt out with around 1,500 of your closest friends, "One Day Like This". Here's a clip recorded at this very show.

First song of the encore, "Lippy Kids"

And the closed out the night with one of my favourites, the powerful "Grounds for Divorce"

C. Duncan at The Danforth Music Hall - Concert Pictures

Scottish singer and composer C Duncan opened for Elbow at The Danforth Music Hall. The multi-instrumentalist got a personal introduction by Guy Garvey for his solo set. He impressed with his beautiful songs, peaceful melodies and soaring vocals.

Give his music a listen:

"Say"

"Garden"

"Wanted to Want it Too"

"Other Side"

"Like You Do"